Science fun for Somerset schoolchildren

HUNDREDS of Somerset schoolchildren have been treated to a host of fun scientific facts and activities thanks to a collaboration between EDF Energy, Bridgwater and Taunton College and the Cheltenham Science Festival.

Years five and six pupils from 14 schools in Sedgemoor and neighbouring West Somerset took part in a two-day STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Festival at Bridgwater and Taunton College.

The festival was organised by EDF Energy’s Hinkley Point Visitor Centre team and was supported by volunteers from both the college and the energy company, which operates Hinkley Point B power station and is building Hinkley Point C.

More than 650 children were guided through a range of hands-on experiments and also had the chance to have a go with the latest virtual reality technology.

“It was an incredible experience for everyone involved in the festival and we had a lot of fun helping the young people learn more about STEM,” said Lorraine Taplin of the visitor centre.

Schoolchildren from years eight and nine were also encouraged to think about studying STEM subjects at GCSE level by taking part in the LabLive science extravaganza in Bridgwater’s McMillan Theatre.

Together with Cheltenham Science Festival, EDF Energy’s Hinkley Point C education team invited hundreds of local pupils to take part in experiments and hands-on fun with the help of scientists Jonathan Milton and Ginny Smith.

Jonathan explored the wonderful world of robots with the budding young scientists, giving them an insight into programming, engineering and challenging them to think about how robots might develop in the future.

Ginny delved into the human brain, introducing pupils to the workings of their nervous systems and enlisting the children’s support to create a giant ‘neuron’ live on stage.

Tom Thayer, Hinkley Point C’s Education and Skills manager, said: “Hosting LabLive in Somerset is a great opportunity to inspire the next generation of scientists. This event fits in well with the activities we deliver through our EDF Energy outreach education programme championed by our staff volunteer STEM ambassadors.”

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EDF Energy in the South West

In the South West EDF Energy employs around 4,000 people across three key sites; at Hinkley Point in Somerset, at Barnwood, near Gloucester, and at Exeter. We operate Hinkley Point B power station, which employs around 550 staff and 220 contract partners. A new nuclear power station, capable of supplying around 6 million homes, is under construction at Hinkley Point. We have an operational support centre at Barnwood, while Exeter is home to one of EDF Energy’s three UK-based call centres. As well as currently generating enough power for some 1.5 million homes in this region, EDF Energy also provides gas and electricity to 480,000 customers with over 30% of those opting for one of the company’s Blue+ products backed by low-carbon generation. We make sure we buy enough electricity generated from a low-carbon nuclear source to match every unit of electricity we estimate our Blue customers use. EDF Energy is proud to power some of the largest companies in the UK, including sites for the Ministry of Defence, Tesco Stores Limited, Morrisons and Everything Everywhere, right here in the South West.